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Greg Pak
@gregpak.net

Make a personal website. It can be really simple! Do it for free at neocities.org! But have one of your very own that no one else controls. And start a newsletter. Make sure the service allows you to export and move your subscribers. Okay, now you have some independence and options.

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401 reposts1.4K likes

Pam R, she/her
@prr333.bsky.social

The problem for creators is that creating your own website, building and using email lists requires MUCH more work. More work, more time than when an aggregate does it for you. You DO get to keep more of what you make. But you have to pay more, and your return on investment of time and $ is lower.

C A Boenke
@boenke.net

I have a personal website. The front page has no links (well, one) but there are many files stored there, some too big for email, which are available to family or others I supply with links. The fact that I have it also gives me a Bluesky Verified Account.

Jared
@karicrockcomics.bsky.social

I've been subscribed to Oeming's newsletter forever. I've opened maybe two of the emails. I do follow him on every social and share nearly every post of his containing his art I see. Following creators outside of social media is difficult. It takes a lot more effort.

Jared
@karicrockcomics.bsky.social

As a working creative you absolutely only have so much time to devote to promoting your work, but cutting yourself off from your audience and making them jump through hoops to follow you...

Jared
@karicrockcomics.bsky.social

But there's also plenty of creatives that I want to jump on social to tell them how much I love the thing of there's I just read/watched, who just aren't available at all. And that's fine too.

Jeroen-bart Engelen
@yeep.bsky.social

If you make a website at NeoCities, don't they control that website? Isn't your website just as gone if they pivot to something else, or go bankrupt? How is this different than a Facebook page for instance?

Jeroen-bart Engelen
@yeep.bsky.social

I don't trust companies that say they are ethical. They can always change their minds. Like how Google removed their "don't be evil" principle in recent years, and how OpenAI is now looking to go full commercial and not be "open", or for the betterment of humankind. Money ruins everything.

Greg Pak
@gregpak.net

Periodically plug your website and newsletter on your social media so folks who like you have the chance to subscribe. Now when the social media site dies or gets overwhelmed by bigots, you still have a way to connect with folks who like your stuff.

Else
@else.social

Are there any newsletter services that you'd suggest? That's the one piece of the puzzle that I haven't seen a good & cheap solution for

Marco Rudy
@marcorudy.bsky.social

This is So helpful, Greg, Thank you. Ive been mulling over the idea of stopping paying wix for my website and doing something simpler, and well, cheaper. This thread is perfect.

Sarah Schumacher
@smschumacher.com

Do you mind if I screenshot your quote tweet above to share in my newsletter/post about rented vs. owned platforms? I think this really captures the gist of it but know your profile requires login to view, so wanted to make sure that was ok.

TheBaroness 🍈
@thebaroness.bsky.social

As a producer of drag shows, my little company has had a website for a few years, now. I use my and the company’s FB pages to direct people to the website. As a friend to many drag performers who produce their own shows, I’d like to create a website for everyone to promote their shows.